Grapple



Sept. 29, 1925.

H. w. WEATHERS GRAPPLE Filed March 2, 1 925 3 Sheets-She'et 1 Spt. 29,1925.

H. w. WEATHERS GRAPPLE Filed March 2; 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedSept. 29, 1925.

we as rarer raise.

HENRY w. WEATHERS, or aneos'ra, eeonom, assrcnon. or ONE-HALF ToirAMnsr;

DOUGHTY, JR, reverse, or spectre, enoiaere.

GRAPPLE.

Application filed March 2, 1925. SeriaI No. 12,573.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY VJ. VVnA'riinns, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Augusta, in the county of Richmond and State ofGeorgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grapples,of which the following is a specification, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to grapples, and more particularly to a grappledesigned for use in connection with automobile lifting cranes. 1

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a simple.inexpensive and efficient grapple, which, may be readily attached to anautomobile in position to be engaged by the chain hoist or other liftingpart of a crane.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a grapple which issimply constructed and having means for preventing relative lateral andlongitudinal movement of the automobile with respect thereto so that aseither end of the machine is lifted drawings which form a part of thisapplication, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front end of an automobile showingthe grapple applied thereto and attached to a lifting crane;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the machine with the grapple applied;and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the grapple removed.

I have indicated in conventional form at 1 an ordinary automobile,and'at 2 I have shown in conventional form a. lifting crane employingthe usual chain hoist 3 with grapple engaging hook 4. These parts areall old and well known in the art and form no part of the presentinvention, The char.

automobile.

In making the device the bar is first bent into a loop forminga hookreceiving eye 6 which is arranged approximately in the center as shown.The arms 7 extending in opposite directions from the eye 6 areintermediate their ends bent upwardly in loop form to produce stops orabutments 8. The continuation of the arms beyond the 7 abutments 8 areextended rearwardly at right angle tothe front portion and'at a pointadjacent their terminals are bent into axle engaging ho'oks 9, eachhaving their immediate terminal formed into an open eye 10 to receivethe shanks llof retaining pins which are pivotally and slidably movableupon the rearward extensions ofthe arm 7. I J

It will thus be seen that the generalout line of this grapple issubstantially U=shaped in plan and that when applied the arm 7 formssupports 12 which engage beneath the springs ad acent their forwardconnection with the side bars of the chassis. v 1

In applying the device allthatis necessary is to place the hooks 9 overthe axles as shown in Fig. 1 and throw the locking pins into engagementwith the eyes 10. When the forward end is lifted the shoulders orsupports 12 contact with the under side of the springs and abutments 8extend on the outside of each spring and alongside of the side bars ofthe chassis. In this position the hook i of the chain hoist may beengaged with the eye 6 and that end of the automobile to which thegrapple is attached raised above the ground.

hen this device is employed with a portable crane it will readily beseen that the automobile may be conveniently moved from place to placeand also elevated to any desired height making it convenient for amechanic to operate upon under parts of the car and doing away with pitsand skidders. The grapple can also be conveniently used with Wreckingtrucks for towing a disabled car.

By providing the axle hooks with the locking pins no longitudinalmovement in either direction will be possible and by providing theabutments 8 no lateral movement with respect to the hoisting crane ispossible. Thus even when the automobile has its ground supported endupon an uneven surface there is no danger of the machine slipping andendangering the-life of a Work man operating beneath the same.

hat I claim is:

1 Aonerpiece grapple for vehicles comprising axle engaging members, acrane engagingelement,and frame supporting por tione. intermediate saidmembers and elem n a 2:. A. g apple fo icles comprising a e engagingmembers, a crane engaging element, frame supporting portionsintermediate said members, and means to lock the axle engaging membersin position on the axle.

grapple comprising axle engaging hooks, means to lock said axle engaginghooks on the axle and a crane engaging element intermdiatesaid hooks andintegral her with 4. A grapple comprising axle engaging hool:s,p ivotedlocking members for locking the hooks on the axle and an intermediate'crane engaging member integral with the hooks A. g apple compr ing le egaging hooks having open termina eyes, pivoted ock ng members removablyengaged in the eyes to lock the hooks on an axle and an nte media e crae engaging m m er.

6. A one=piece grapple comprising a bodyhaving spaced-frame supportingportions, a mtermed ate crane engaging ement, nd axle e gaging h ok e tnd gat r ght angles fromithe frame Supporting portions,

,7,- .A g appl c mprising a ody having spaced frame supporting portions,an intermediate crane engaging element, axle engaging hooks extending atright angles from th f ame upporting p r ons, an means to lock the hookson an axle.

8. A grapple for vehicles comprising a body having spaced framesupporting portions thereon, and integral means to prevent lateralmovement of a vehicle frame on said portions.

9. A grapple for vehicles comprising a body having spaced framesupporting portions, an intermediate crane engaging ele ment, means forpreventing lateral movement of a vehicle frame on said portions andmeans for preventing longitudinal movement of the vehicle frame withrespect to said portions.

10. A grapple for vehicles comprising a body having spaced framesupporting portions, an intemediate crane engaging part, means forpreventing lateral movement of a vehicle frame on said portions, andaxle engaging elements for preventing longitudinal moiement of thevehicleframe on said portions.

11. A grapple for vehicles comprising a body having spaced frameengaging pertions, guard elements adjoining said portions and serving toprevent lateral movement of a vehicle frame on said portions, and meansfor preventing longitudinal movement of the vehicle frame with respectto the said portions.

12; A grapple for vehicles comprising a single piecestructure, having acrane engaging element intermediate its ends and spaced frame supportingportions on oppoi e s d s of said eleme t, up tanding gua d elementsadjoining said portions, and rear- Wardly extending axle hookscontinuing from the guard element and arranged at right angles to thesupporting portions.

In testimony whereofl aflix my signature.

HENRY W. WEATHERS,

